Chinese scientists found the explanation of these unusual electric shocks. They are known as ‘red elves’. They were captured in the heights of a storm in the highest mountain range in the world. What originated the red elves of the Himalayas?
It was recorded on the night of May 19, 2022. Two Chinese astrophotographers, Angel An and Shuchang Dong, captured a show of more than one hundred red elves on the Himalayas. The observation site, located on the South Tibetan Plateau, revealed an impressive heavenly event.
The greatest on earth
Among the captured phenomena were ‘red elves’. They are unusual secondary jets and the first case recorded in Asia of green atmospheric luminescence at the base of the night ionosphere. They are called ‘Ghost Games’. This extraordinary event attracted worldwide attention and received wide coverage of the main media.
A recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences sheds light about it. “This event was truly extraordinary,” said Professor Gaopeng Lu. «Sprites triggered land cloud rays with high -peak positive currents within a massive convective system. The thunderstorms in the Himalayan region have the potential to produce some of the most complex and intense upper and intense upper atmosphere ».
An innovative method was used to synchronize video time using satellite trajectories and stellar field analysis. This innovative approach allowed them to determine the exact hours of occurrence of sprites. Thus they linked them with their original ray downloads. One of the anonymous reviewers praised the technique. It has potential as a reliable tool for timing for citizen scientists who contribute to scientific observations.
Giant storm
The precipitation regions cover from the ganges plain to the southern foothills of the Tibetan plateau. This event recorded the greatest number of sprites during a single storm in southern Asia. What suggests this? That the thunderstorms of this region have discharge capabilities in the upper atmosphere comparable to those of the large plains of the United States or the European sea storms.
The red elves of the Himalayas are spectacular and unusual. In addition, the findings indicate that these storms can generate even more complex download structures. It could influence atmospheric coupling processes with important physical and chemical effects.
